Devotionals and Other Helps for Navigating the Teen Years with Grace.
In musical terms, grace notes are short, ornamental notes played just before the main beat. I hope these posts will function as grace notes in your life, enhancements to the music you are making as you journey onward day by day.

About Me

I have a husband and three children who are the [de]lights of my days and my fulltime [pre]occupation. In earlier years, I worked in marketing and as a freelance journalist and editor. Before that, as a high schooler, I gave my life to Christ through the ministry of Young Life. Most recently, I'm bumbling along, reaching for the Proverbs 31 ideal and exercising the patience of the aforementioned family - and some friends, too. Pressing on,
Grace

Previous Posts

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Help Wanted - NOT

Last week our youngest daughter appeared to be having some friendship difficulties. So on Wednesday morning, I devoted some time to praying for her and her relationships. That afternoon, as I picked her up from school, she got in the car with a tightly clenched fist. As it turned out, she was clutching a few tiny friendship gifts from one of her friends.

I was pleased and told her how neat I thought it was that God had answered my prayers from the morning. In an outraged tone, she replied, “you do NOT need to pray for me.”

As a Mom, it’s love that compels me to pray for my children. Especially in situations where I feel I have little other influence. Obviously our elementary schooler viewed it differently. She saw it as meddling. And I believe, in that circumstance, she felt she had everything under control and needed no help from me or God.

Now where do you think she gets that attitude from? Ever heard the expression: “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?” She probably learned it right in my lap. Oh, how I regret the many times I have consciously or unconsciously rejected God’s “meddling” by refusing to bring things to Him in prayer. It brings to mind the classic hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” I googled the words and found the tune and lyrics here in someone’s online devotion, including these lines:Oh, what peace we often forfeit.Oh, what needless pain we bear.All because we do not carryeverything to God in prayer.Whether we acknowledge it or not, we need to invite God’s meddling. We need to pray about everything. And whether she appreciates it or not, I’ll keep praying for my precious daughter. But maybe I just won't tell her about it. :)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6,7